Ducks' Morrison set for homecoming

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Brendan Morrison has the benefit of a head start on his first regular-season appearance at GM Place since he left the Vancouver Canucks to sign a free-agent contract with the Ducks last summer.

In addition to having appeared in Vancouver in the season's final exhibition game, Oct. 5, Morrison and the Ducks practiced at GM Place on Saturday and Sunday.

"I did have a chance to get that pre-season game under my belt, so I don't think it's going to be as weird as it could have been," Morrison said. "It was different -- being on the other side, the other bench, coming out the other tunnel, all those things. So to get that out of the way was kind of nice. I can just worry about playing."

A native of nearby Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Morrison played seven-plus seasons for the Canucks after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He and former standout Vancouver wingers Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi combined to form one of the top lines in the NHL earlier this decade.

"I spent most of my career here," Morrison said. "I have a lot of good friends here, and obviously family. The team has changed a fair amount since last year, but anytime you come into a place that you're very familiar with, it's a weird feeling."

Morrison, 33, anticipates having some 15 to 20 family members and friends in attendance at the game.

"I'm going to try and regulate it a little bit," he said. "It's been getting a little out of hand."

With only four goals and eight points in 32 games, Morrison is still struggling to regain his form after having undergone April surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He has shown signs of life lately, scoring the winning goal in two of the past three Ducks victories.

"I still think there's a lot more to give, but as far as the feel of the game and what my mindset is, it's a lot better than where it was the first two months of the season," he said.

While it is uncertain what line combinations Coach Randy Carlyle will employ against the Canucks, Morrison will be without Teemu Selanne on right wing. Selanne is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after having suffered a cut quadriceps muscle in his right leg during the opening minutes of Friday night's 3-2, shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Morrison had been skating alongside Selanne and Todd Marchant of late.

"It's not like we were lighting the world on fire five-on-five, but I think our game was definitely getting better," Morrison said. "I thought the last few games we were more of a threat offensively and very sound defensively. It's unfortunate we weren't able to continue to get better.

"It puts the onus on other guys to step up and try to fill that void. You can't replace Teemu. One guy can't replace him, so it has to be a group effort."

Marchant, meanwhile, is also scheduled to have some special guests in Vancouver. Marchant's wife, Caroline, her parents and the couple's three children -- Lillian, Ashley and Timothy -- are due to attend Marchant's milestone 1,000th career game.

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